Former President Mohamed Nasheed has stated that Mauritius, which has suspended ties with the Maldives due to the dispute over the sovereign ownership of Chagos, is ready to engage in discussions.

Nasheed made these remarks in an interview given to the media today upon his return to the Maldives after participating in the 10th Indian Ocean Dialogue held in the Indian capital, New Delhi.

Delegates from various Indian Ocean nations participated in the meeting, including the Foreign Minister of Mauritius, Ritesh Ramful.

Nasheed said that he had met with the Minister and requested that peaceful ways be found through dialogue between the two countries, and the Minister revealed that the country is ready to enter into discussions with the Maldives.

"Under no circumstances is it a good thing to lack such diplomatic relations with neighboring countries. So, they are ready. I hope that the Maldives’ Foreign Ministry will also use this opportunity to move forward with the Mauritian government," Nasheed said.

The Maldives has refused to recognize Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos Islands and has also objected to the agreement that (Mauritius) is working to establish with the British government.

Mauritius decided to suspend diplomatic relations with the Maldives after President Mohamed Muizzu revealed that the Maldivian government had officially requested to discuss with the UK government its objections to handing over sovereign authority of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

Following that decision by Mauritius, the President stated that he would reiterate the advocacy that Chagos is a place belonging to the Maldives.

Regarding that decision, Nasheed had previously said that even if Mauritius suspends diplomatic relations at a time when the Maldives has intensified its efforts to obtain Chagos, the Maldives does not need to step back.